Civics & Government



Address America


From the National Constitution Center, Address America is for middle & high school students to find their own voice in a civic engagement project. Students enter their own six-word stump speech, choose a category over an issue, & submit it.

For a little background on a Stump speech, it is a six-word focused & consistent idea that politicians give in a public forum. Named from the days when politicians use to stand on sawed-off tree stumps to address the public. They can be memorable, like President F.D.R.’s “Restore America to its own people,” which aided him to when the 1932 election. Or what President George H.W. Bush said in 1988, “Read my lips: no new taxes.” These can provide great discussion points for a class debate.

It is easy for students to enter their ideas, comment on another’s thoughts, or remix someone else’s stump speech. A lesson plan is included for teachers. A classroom idea is to have students create campaign posters with their stump speeches & do a public opinion poll with their classmates or school.


Cartoons for the Classroom


Discuss current events & the nuances of political satire with lessons plans based on editorial cartoons.


Constitute


This site hosts the constitutions of 191 countries. It is a fantastic resource for comparing global governments.


iCivics


18 educational games over citizenship & government, ways to make an impact, & curriculum units.


If You Were President

Scholastic

A quick activity from Scholastic where students can learn about the basics of balancing budget.


Last Updated - May 2014